UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 







BULLETIN No. 870 

Contribution from the Bureau of Animal Industry 
JOHN R. MOHLER, Chief 




Washington, D. C. 



October 20. 1920 



EFFECT OF WINTER RATIONS ON PASTURE GAINS 
OF YEARLING STEERS/ 

By E. W. Sheet? and R. 11. Tuckwiller, Animal Husbandry Division.'^ 



I. WINTER RATIONS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON PASTURE 

GAINS OF YEARLING STEERS. 

II. THE USE OF SILAGE AND THE COST OF RATIONS FOR 

WINTERING YEARLING STEERS. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Outline of the experimental work 1 

The region and the problems 2 

Objects and plan of the work 3 

Kind of steers used 4 

Feeds used 4 

Character of pasture 6 

Method of feeding and handling the 

steers 7 

I. Winter rations and their influence on 

pasture gains of yearling steers 7 

Quantity of feed consumed 7 

Gains and losses during winter 8 

Gains during summer 10 



Page. 



I. AVinter rations, etc.— Continued. 

Gains and losses, winter and summer . . 11 
Graphic presentation of gains and 

losses 11 

Conclusions 13 

II. The use of silage and the co;t of rations 

for wintering yearling steers 14 

Prices of feeds used 14 

Cost per pound of gain 16 

Value of gains 17 

Value of silage in the rations 18 

General summary of costs and gains.. 19 

Conclusions 19 



OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENTAL WORK. 

The work reported in this bulletin is part of a series of beef-cattle 
experiments that have been in progress since December 22, 1914, 
carried on in cooJ)eration fcetween the Bureau of Animal Industry of 
the LTnited States Department of Agriculture and the West Virginia 
Agricultural Experiment Station on the farm of David Tuckwiller, 

1 A report of cooperative work by the Bureau of Animal Industry, United States Department of Agri- 
culture, and the West Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station. 

2 The authors acknowledge the services of W. F. Ward, formerly of the Animal Husbandry Division, 
who assisted in planning this experiment, and of F. W. Farley, J. B. Huyett, and E. A. Tuckwiller, 
formerly of the Animal Husbandry Division, who assisted in carrying on the work. 

183544°— 20— Bull. 870 1 



'' fd '^ 



2 



BULLETIN 870, U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 




in Greenbrier County, W. Va., to study beef-production problems in 
the Appalachian Mountain region. This farm is located in the 
southeastern part of the State in the blue-grass area. The results of 

this experiment apply not only to 
West Virginia but also to the ad- 
jacent States having similar con- 
ditions, as shown in the outline 
map (fig. 1 ) . Some of the results 
and methods may be of such 
general application as to be util- 
ized to advantage by cattle feeders 
in other parts of the country. 

THE REGION AND THE PROBLEMS 

The topography in most parts of 
the region, except in the vicinity 
of streams, is gently rolling or even 
mountainous in the higher eleva- 
tions. The area is generally cleared 
of forest trees, although vast areas 
of cut-over or stump land are 
found. The farms vary in size 
from less than 100 acres to more 
than 1,000 acres. The land is 
especially well adapted for grazing purposes. In most sections there 
is tillable land for the production of abundant crops for winter feed 
or other purposes. 

It is in this general area that a large percentage of the grass- 
finished cattle are produced, which go annually to eastern markets. 
The fact that most of the steers produced in this area are finished 
for market from grass alone attests the value of the pastures, which 
consist largely of blue grass. The use of grain for finishing cattle 
is not general, although there are many sections where the prac- 
tice is followed, particularly in the valleys of the larger streams 
and on gently rolling areas. By far the larger number of farmers 
who handle beef cattle grow either stockers and feeders or finish 
cattle for market from grass alone. It therefore becomes one of the 
principal beef-production problems in tliis general area to determine 
the best and most economical method of wintering the cattle and the 
one that will enable them to make the best possible use of the pasture 
the following summer, the time when cheapest gains are made. 

It has been a common practice in this area to winter steers on dry 
feed, such as hay, corn stover, and wheat straw, and on corn silage 
to a less extent, in a way that causes them to lose materially in 
weight. They are then pastured the following summer and sold 



Fig. 1. — Map shoeing re^;ion to wlai;h this work 
applies. The black dot indicates the location of 
the farm on which the experiment was con- 
ducted. The shaded portion represents the area 
to which the results are applicable, and the dot- 
ted portion shows an additional area to which 
the results apply in part. 



«0V'*"3 JCI2S 



WINTER RATIOjSTS OF YEARLING STEERS. 3 

from grass either as stockers or feeders or as finished steers for the 
market. There are some who hold the idea that it is profitable to 
permit this loss of weight, which with older steers often amounts 
to from 25 to 100 pounds. There are others who believe that cattle 
wintered on silage, or on a ration of which silage is a part, will not do 
well on grass the following summer. 

OBJECTS AND PLAN OF THE WORK. 

The objects of the experiments as a whole had these general prob- 
lems in view: 

1. To ascertain the effect of different wintering rations upon sub- 
sequent pasture gains. 

2. To determine the most satisfactory and economical method of 
wintering. 

3. To determine the best method and the cost of raising beef cattle 
in West Virginia. 





■***pf*ri^l . *^ av-**! 



Fig. 2.— The first day on pasture, April 29, 1918, after the cattle had been wintered on a ration of corn 
silage, cottonseed meal, and wheat straw. (This picture shows the class of cattle, the general appear- 
ance of pasture, and the nature of the coimtry.) 

Two distinct phases of the problems as outlined in objects 1 and 2 
presented themselves for solution: First, the wintering of yearlings 
that are to be pastured the following summer and sold as stockers 
or feeders; second, the wintering and subsequent grazing of older 
steers to be sold from grass when fat. The first, however, is the 
only one considered here, the second being reserved for further 
investigation. 

The work was carried on for a period of four years, in order to have 
an average of feedstuffs, cattle, seasons, and other conditions tend- 
ing to produce variation. The general plan of these experiments, 
including the rations used for the different lots of steers, is given in 
Table 1. 



y 



BULLETIN 870, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Table 1. — Plan of the four years' worJ:. 



■ Lot 
No.i 


Season. 


Steers. 
in lot. 


Lotsl.. 


1914-15 
1915-16 
1916-17 


10 
10 
10 


Lots 2.. 


1914-15 
1915-16 
1916-17 
X917-18 


10 
10 
10 
10 


Lots 3.. 


1914-15 
1915-16 
1916-17 
1917-1 S 


10 
10 
10 
10 


Lot 4.. 


1917-18 


10 


Lot 5.. 


1317-lS 


10 



Winter feed.2 



Com silage, mi.xed hav, and wlieat straw. 

do " 

do 



Com silage, wheat straw, and cottonseed meaL 
do 

do :.. 

do 



Mixed hay and wheat strav/. 

do 

do 

do 



Com silace and soy-^ean hay 

Com silage, rye hay, and cottonseed me.' 1 . 



Summer 
feed.3 



Pasture. 
Do. 
Do. 

Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 

Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 

Do. 



1 New lots of steers were used each year, totaling as follows: 1914, 30 steers; 1915, 30 steers; 1916, 33 steers; 
1917, 40 steers. 

2 From time cattle were taken off pasture in December until turned on pasture, about May 1. 

3 From time cattle went on grass in spring imtil sold. Each summer all the steers were turned into the 
Same pasture and had no feed except the grass. 

KIND OF STEERS USED. 

The steers used in this work were of grade Shorthorn, Hereford, 
and Aberdeen- Angus breeding. They were raised in southern West 
Virginia and were a good, uniform lot of cattle in age, weight, quality, 
and condition. They averaged from 650 to 675 pounds in weight 




Fig. 3. — Steers in Lot 1 at end of winter feeding, 191/-1S. 

at the beginning of the winter period and were 1 year old the previous 
spring. 



FEEDS USED. 



Samples of each of the feeds used were taken at different times 
throughout the four winter feeding periods and sent to the De- 
partment of Chemistry, West Virginia Experiment Station, Morgan- 
town, W. Va., and there analyzed, with the results shown in Table 2. 



WINTER EATIOI^S OF YEARLIISTG STEERS. 
Table 2. — Composition of feeds used. 



- 


Analyses (actual) as made at the 
West Virginia Experiment Station. 


Analyses fayerage) as given in 
Henry's "Feeds and Feeding." 


Feeds. 


Protein. 


Carbo- 
hydrates, 

includ- 
ing fiber. 


Fat. 


Ash. 


Pro- 
tein. 


Carbo- 
hydrates, 

includ- 
ing fiber. 


Fat. 


Ash. 




Per ct. 

1.86 
6. 60 
2.86 
5.79 
10.00 
37.58 


Per ct. 
21.52 
79.49 
84.11 

79.82 
68. CO 
40.34 


Per ct. 
0.53 
1.90 
1.38 
1.19 
3.02 
8.29 


Per ct. 
1.13 
3.74 
3.21 
4.75 
9.08 
6.05 


Per ct. 
2.1 
8.6 
3.1 
6.7 
16.0 
37.6 


Per ct. 
21.7 

70.7 
81.8 
78.0 
64.0 
39.9 


Per ct. 

0.8 
2.4 
1.5 
2.1 

2.8 
8.2 


Perct. 
1.7 


Mixed hay 


6.1 




5.2 




5.1 




8.6 


Cottonseed meal (sood) 


6.4 



From the analyses it is evident that the feeds used, with the excep- 
tion of cottonseed meal, were somewhat below the average in quality. 
The cottonseed meal used was of 41 per cent protein the first year 
and of 36 per cent protein the last three years. The silage was made 
from a mixture of dent and silage corn. 




Fig. 4. — Steers in Lot 2 at end of winter feeding, 1917-18. 

A three-year rotation of crops, consistmg of corn, wheat, and hay, 
is practiced pretty generally in the section imder discussion. Timo- 
thy is sown with the wheat in the fall, and clover is sown on the 
same field in the spring. This provides in the year followmg the 
wheat crop a mixed hay of timothy and clover. The mixed hay 
used in this work was obtained in this manner. 

In making soy-bean hay the ground is prepared about the same as 
it would be for corn. The beans are drilled broadcast, usmg IJ 
bushels per acre. They are usually sown the last of May or the first 
of June, after all danger of heavy frost is past. When the beans begin 
to form in the pods, about the first of September, the time varying 
with the variety of beans and the kind of season, the crop is cut and 
cured for hay. 



■x^^ 



c 



BULLETIN 870, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



In making rye hay the seed is sown in the fall, as it would be for 
raising grain, except that more seed per acre is used. In the spring 
just before the rye blooms it is cut and cured. 

The composition and nutritive ratio of the rations fed are given in 
Table 3. 

Table 3. — Dry matter, protein, carbohydrates, fat, and nutritive ratio of rations fed 

each year. 



Lot 
No. 


Ration. 


Averaee 

quantity 

per 

steer 

daily. 


Composition. 


Nutritive 
ratio. 


Dry 

matter. 


Protein. 


Carbo- 
hydrates. 


Fat. 


1 




Pounds. 
20.0 
5.0 
2.54 


Pounds. 
5.26 
4. .39 
2.33 


Pounds. 

0.220 

.200 

.018 


Pounds. 

3.000 

1. 985 

.891 


Pounds. 

0.140 

.0.55 

.013 






Mixed hay 








> 1 :14.5 




Corn silage 








11.98 


.4.38 


5.876 


.208 










2 


23.1 
4.9 
1.0 


6.08 
4.49 
.93 


. 254 
.034 
. .334 


3. 465 
1.720 
.243 


. 162 
.025 
.0-,9 














I 1 :9. 7 




Mixed hay 








11.50 


.622 


5.428 


.266 










S 


11.9 

4.07 


10.45 
3.73 


.476 
.028 


4.724 
1.429 


.131 
.020 


1 


















14.18 


. .-04 


li. 1.-3 


. 151 


1 








i 


20.0 
6.0 


5.26 

5.48 


.220 
.702 


3.000 
2.352 


.140 

.072 


I 










Com silage 








10.74 


.922 


5. 352 


.212 


J 








r, 


■ 20.0 

6.0 

.5 


5.26 

5.51 

.46 


.220 
.204 
.167 


3.000 

2. 760 

.122 


.140 

.066 
.039 














I 1:10.9 












11.23 


.591 


5. 882 


.245 











From the foregoing table it is seen that the quantity of dry mat- 
ter fed was practically the same in all lots, the chief difference in the 
ration being in the proportion of protein to carbohydrates. 



CHARACTER OF PASTURE. 



Each year the steers were tm'ned on a rather rough pasture of 
about 160 acres, one-fourth of which is in woodland. The pasture is 
situated in a valley between two small mountains, and a small stream 
which flows through it provides an abundance of fresh water at all 
times throughout the summer. 

The sou is of limestone formation, and a good growth of blue grass 
with much white clover is found on all parts of the pasture not in 
timber. Under normal climatic conditions there is rainfall enough 
to keep the grass growing throughout the season. The latter part of 
the summer of 1917 was rather dry, however, and during August of 
that year the steers made but small gains. 



WINTER RATIONS OF YEARLING STEERS. 7 

METHOD OF FEEDING AND HANDLING THE STEERS. 

In the fall before starting the steers on the winter feed they were 
divided into lots of 10 each. In this division care was taken to have 
the lots as nearly the same as possible in regard to quality, breedmg, 
size, and condition. These different lots were given the same amomit 
of space in open sheds with small outside lots about 30 by 60 feet in 
size. Water was supplied in these lots at all times, and salt was 
constantly available. The cattle were fed twice a day. 

The feed, both concentrates and roughages, was weighed each 
time and accurate records of it made. The steers were weighed at 
the beginning and at the end of the feedmg period, the weights being 
taken 3 days in succession and an average taken for their initial and 
final weight. They were weighed also every 28 days. For identifi- 
cation, neck straps with numbers on them were used and individual 
weights taken in the morning after feeding. 



WINTER RATIONS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON PASTURE 
YEARLING STEERS. 



GAINS OF 



QUANTITY OF FEED CONSUMED. 

In considering the quantity of feed consumed it should be kept in 
mind that these cattle were getting only maintenance rations, but 
enough to keep them in good, strong, thrifty condition. Table 4 
shows the total amount of different feeds eaten in the various lots 
and the average daily ration per steer in each lot during each of the 
four winters. 



Table 4. — Average total and daily rations during four winters. 
1914-15. 



Lot 

No. 



Number 
of steers. 



Days. 



Ration. 



Total 
feed per 

steer. 



Daily 

feed per 

steer. 



128 



Corn silasre 

Mixed hay 

Wheat straw 

Com silage 

Wheat straw 

Cottonseed meal 

Mixed hay 

Straw . . . '. 

1915-16, 

Corn silage 

Mi xed hay 

Wheat straw 

Com silage 

Wheat straw 

Cottonseed meal 

Mixed hay 

Straw 



Pounds. 

2,111.5 

653.0 

429.0 

3,105.0 
561.0 
127.5 

1,278.5 
602.5 



Pounfls. 
17.0 
5.0 
3.4 

25.0 
4.3 
1.0 

10.0 
4.7 



2,440.0 
610.0 
265.0 

3,050.0 
610.0 
122.0 

1,464.0 
530.0 



20.0 
5.0 
2.2 

25.0 
5.0 
1.0 

12.0 
4.3 



BULLETIN 870, U. S. DEPARTMEN^T OF AGRICULTURE. 



Table 4. — -Average total and daily rations during four irinters — Continued. 

1916-17. 



Lot 
No. 


Number 
of steer.s. 


Days. 


nation. 


Total 

fe°'l per 

steer. 


Daily 
feed per 

stoer. 


1 


10 
10 
10 


134 
134 
134 




Pounds. 

3,015.0 

670. 

271.0 

3,015.0 
628.0 
134.0 

1,622.0 
611.0 


Pounds. 
22. h 




Mixed hay 


5 




Wheat straw 


2.02 


2 


Com silaee 


22 5 




Wheat .straw 


4.69 




r.nft.on.Sfip.d mH,.iI 


1.0 


3 


Mixed hay 


12.1 




Wheat straw 


4.56 









1917-lS. 



10 


133 


10 


333 


10 


133 


10 


133 



Corn silage 

Wheat straw 

Cottonseed meal. 

Mixed hay 

Wheat straw 

Silage 

Soy-bean hay... 

Silage 

Rye hay 

Cottonseed meal. 



,660.0 
73S.0 
135.0 

, 7S2. 2 
359.1 

,660.0 
798.0 

,660.0 

798. 
66.5 



20.0 
5.55 
1.0 

13.4 
2.7 

20.0 
6.0 

20.0 
6.0 
0.5 



fr 








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Fig. 5.— Steers iu Lot 3 at end of winter feeding, 1917-18. 
GAINS AND LOSSES DURING WINTER. 

The gains and losses in w'eight during each of the four winters are 
shown in Table 5. 

Table 5. — Total and daily gains and losses during four ivinters. 
1914-15. 



Lot 
No. 


Number 

of 
steers. 


Days. 


Ration. 


Average 
initial 
weight 
per 
steer. 


Average 
final 

weight 

per 

steer. 


Total 
gain( + ) 

or loss 
(-)per 

steer. 


Average 

daily 

gain "or 

loss per 

steer. 


1 
2 


10 
10 

10 


12S 
128 

128 


Com silage, mixed hay, and wheat straw. 

Corn silage, wheat straw, and cottonseed 

meal 


Pounds. 
622 

618 
623 


Pounds. 
599 

692 

577 


Pounds. 
-23 

+74 
-46 


Pounds. 
-0.18 

+ .58 


3 


Mixed hay and wheat straw 


- .36 









WINTER EATIONS OF YEARLING STEERS. 



Table 5. — Total and daily gains and losses during four winters — Continued. 

1915-16. 











Average 


Average 


Total 


Average 


Lot 
No. 


Number 






initial 


final 


gam(+) 


daily 


of 


Days. 


Ration. 


weight 


weight 


or loss 


gam or 


steers. 






per 


per 


(-)per 


loss per 










steer. 


steer. 


steer. 


steer. 










Pounds. 


Pounds. 


Pounds. 


Pounds. 


1 


10 


122 


Corn silage, mixed hay, and wheat straw. . 


678 


678 


00 


00 


2 


10 


122 


Corn silage, wheat straw, and cottonseed 












10 


122 


meal 


678 
678 


758 
671 


+80 
- 7 


+ .66 


3 




— .06 









1916-17. 



1 


10 


134 


2 


10 


134 


3 


10 


134 



Com silage, mixed hay, and wheat straw. 
Corn silage, wheat straw, and cottonseed 

meal 

Mixed hay and wheat straw 

1917-18. 

Com silage, wheat straw, and cottonseed 

meal 

Mixed hay and wheat straw 

Com silage and soy-bean hay 

Com silage, rye hay, and cottonseed meal 



690 
690 



742 
659 



+ 19 



+52 
-30 



+ .14 



+ .39 
- .22 



2 


10 


133 


3 


10 


133 


4 


10 


133 


5 


10 


133 



671 


711 


+40 


671 


615 


-56 


671 


698 


+27 


671 


682 


+11 



+ .30 

+ .421 

+ .203 

+ .083 



Table 5 shows that in 1914-15 the cattle in Lot 1 fed on silage, 
mixed hay, and straw lost an average of 23 pounds in 128 days during 
the winter, equal to a daily loss of 0.18 pound per steer. In 1915-16 
the lot fed the same ration neither lost nor gained weight during the 
122 winter days. In 191G-17 the lot fed the same ration gained an 
average of 19 pounds, equal to a daily gain of 0.14 pound per steer. 

Lot 2 in 1914-15, fed on silage, straw, and cottonseed meal, gained 
an average of 74 pounds in 128 days, equal to a daily gain per steer 
of 0.58 pound. The next year the corresponding lot gained 80 





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Fig. 6.— Steers in Lot 4 at end of winter feeding, 1917-18. 
183544°— 20— Bull. 870 2 



10 



BULLETIN 870, V. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



pounds in 122 days, making a daily gain of 0.66 pound per steer. 
In 1916-17 the corresponding lot gained 52 pounds per steer in 134 
days, making an average daily gain of 0,39 pound. In 1917-18 the 
corresponding lot gained 40 pounds per steer in 133 days, making an 
average daily gain of 0.3 pound. 

Lot 3 in 1914-15, fed on mixed hay and wheat straw with no 
silage, lost an average of 46 pounds, equal to a daily loss of 0.36 
pound per steer. The corresponding lot in 1915-16 lost 7 pounds, 
equal to a daily loss of 0.06 pound per steer. In 1916-17 the corre- 
sponding lot lost 30 pounds, making an average daily loss of 0.22 
pound per steer. In 1917-18 the corresponding lot lost 56 pounds, 
equal to a daily loss per steer of 0,42 pound. 

The lot fed silage and soy-bean hay in 1917-18 gained an average 
of 27 pounds in 133 days, making a daily gain per steer of 0.2 pound. 
In 1917-18 the lot fed silage, rye hay, and cottonseed meal gained 
11 pounds per steer in 133 days, or an average daily gain of 0.08 
pound. 

GAINS DURING SUMMER. 

In the spring of each year as soon as the grass was good enough, 
which was usually about May 1, the steers from all the lots were 
turned into the same pasture on grass with no additional feed. 
Weights were taken every 28 days, just as during the winter. Thus 
the effect of the different rations upon the summer grazing of the 
different lots could be studied. 

Table 6 shows the weights at the beginning of the grazing period, 
the weights at the end of the grazing period, and the total and 
average gains per steer for the summer period. 

Table 6. — Total and daily gain.t during four summers on pasture alone. 

1914-15. 



Lot No. 


Number 
of steers. 


Days on 
pas'ture. 


Average 
weight 
per steer 
at begin- 
ning of 
grazing 
period. 


Average 

final 

weight 

per steer. 


Total 
gain per 
steer for 
summer. 


Average 

daily 
gain per 

steer. 


1 . . .. .. 


10 
10 
10 


168 


PouTulx. 
599 
692 
577 


Pounds. 
935 
947 

892 


Pounds. 
336 
255 
315 


Pounds. 
2.0 


2 


1.5 


3 




1.87 











1915 


-16. 












10 
10 
10 


167 


678 
758 
671 


1,022 

1,036 

981 


344 
278 
310 


2.1 


2 


1.7 


3 




1.9 









1916-17. 



1 


10 
10 
10 


157 


709 
742 
659 


979 

1,000 

965 


270 
258 
306 


1.7 


2 


1.6 


3 




1.9 









1917-18. 



10 
10 
10 
10 


140 


711 
615 
698 
682 


969 
920 
938 
963 


258 
305 
240 
281 









1.8 
2.2 
1.7 
2.0 



WINTER RATIONS OF YEARLING STEERS. 



GAINS AND LOSSES, WINTER AND SUMMER. 



11 



The gains and losses in weight in both winter and summer are 
summarized in Table 8, and averages are shown for lots fed on the 
same rations in different years. 




Fig. 7.— Steers ill Lot 5 at end of winter feeding, 1917-18. 
Table 7. — Summary of gains and losses in iceight per steer, winter and summer. 



Lot 
No. 


Ration. 


Year. 


Gain(+) 
or loss 
(-)in 
weight 

per steer 

in 
winter. 


Gain in 
weight 

per steer 
in 

summer. 


Total 

gain in 

weight 

per steer, 

winter 

and 

summer. 


1 




1914-15 
1915-16 
1916-17 


Pounds. 
-23 
+00 
+ 19 


Pounds. 
336 
344 
270 


Pounds. 
313 






344 
289 






- 1 


317 


316 










2 


1914-15 
1915-16 
1916-17 
1917-18 


+74 
+80 
+52 
+40 


255 

278 
258 
258 


328 






358 
3 
298 






+62 


262 


324 










3 


1914-1^ 
1915-16 
1916-17 
1917-18 


-46 
- 7 
-30 
-56 


315 
310 
306 
305 


269 






303 
276 
249 






-35 


309 


274 










4 


1917-18 


+27 


240 


267 








5 


1917-18 


+11 


281 


292 









GRAPHIC PRESENTATION OF GAINS AND LOSSES. 

The comparative rapidity and extent of gains and losses can be 
shown more clearly b_v the use of a chart than in any other way. 
Accordingly a chart is presented herewith as figure 8, which shows 
the average changes in weight of the steers of the three lots. 

Horizontal distance on the chart indicates the number of days 
that the steers were fed during the winters and pastured during the 



12 



BULLETIN 870, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 









/,OSO 



summers. The average length of the total period for the 4 years 
was 288 days, of which 130 days were in the winter or feedmg period 
and the remaining 158 in the summer or grass period. The heavy 
black vertical line near the center of the chart marks the dividing 

line between the 
wmter and summer 
periods. 

Vertical distance 
on the chart repre- 
sents changes in live 
weight of the steers. 
The weights corre- 
sponding to each of 
the horizontal lines 
are given along the 
loft side of the chart. 
Some rather strik- 
ing facts as to the 
way steers on differ- 
ent rations vary in 
weight from period 
to period during the 
winter are brought 
out. It will be noted 
that in Lots 1 and 3 
there was an actual 
loss in weight each 
year during the first 
period of the winter. 
By the end of the 
second period this 
tendency to lose in 
weight had been 
overcome, and in 
most of the trials a slight gain was made during this period. While 
the average of Lot 2 showed a small gain during the first period, it 
is evident that the rapidity of gain was greatly increased during 
the second period. 

With one or two exceptions there was a marked loss in weight of 
steers in all lots during the last 18 days of the winter period. This 
falling off in weight can, no doubt, be attributed to the fact that the 
coming of the pasture season caused the steers to eat less dry feed and 
possibly to make less efficient use of what they did eat. Cattle fed on 
dry feed during the winter become restless with the appearance of 
grass and lose their appetites for the dry and less appetizing feeds 
which they have been receiving. 




\ 

\ e-eo 



SPO 



Fig. 8.— Diagram showing average variations in weights of 3 lots of 
steers during su mm er and winter feeding periods. 



WINTER RATIONS OF YEARLING STEERS. 13 

There are some very noticeable differences in the gains made by the 
different lots during the first 28 days of the pasture season. With one 
exception all lots in each trial took on weight. The steers of Lot 3 
during this first period of the spring of 1917 actually lost 2 pounds 
per head while on grass. There is no apparent explanation for this 
loss, in view of the fact that both Lots 1 and 2 made gains during this 
same month. Since all the steers were in the same pasture and 
received the same treatment, no satisfactory reason for the loss by the 
steers of this one lot can be advanced. 

As would be expected, the cattle which had been fed on a ration 
that caused them to lose weight during the winter made the greatest 
gains during this first month on pasture. The steers which had been 
fed on a ration of corn silage, cottonseed meal, and wheat straw and 
which made a steady gain throughout the winter did not make so 
large a gain from grass during this first period as did the steers of Lot 
3, which lost weight in the winter. 

The greatest gains from pasture were made by the steers of Lot 1, 
although the difference between this lot and Lot 3 is so slight as to be 
almost negligible. While the summer gains of the steers of Lot 2, fed 
silage, cottonseed meal, and straw, were not so large as those of the 
other two lots, the total of both winter and summer gains shows an 
increase of 49 pounds over the gain made by the steers fed mixed hay 
and wheat straw and 14 pounds over those fed corn silage, mixed hay, 
and wheat straw. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

1. An average daily ration of 19.8 pounds of corn silage, 5 pounds 
of mixed hay, and 2.5 pounds of wheat straw fed to average good 
steers weighing 663 pounds (Lot 1) for 130 days during the winter 
should maintain them without a loss in weight. 

2. An average daily ration of 23.1 pounds of corn silage, 4.9 pounds 
of wheat straw, and 1 pound of cottonseed meal fed to average good 
steers weighing 664 pounds (Lot 2) for 130 days during the winter 
should maintain their weight and allow an average gain of 62 pounds 
per steer. 

3. An average daily ration of 11.9 pounds of mixed hay and 4.1 
pounds of wheat straw fed to average good steers weighing 665 pounds 
(Lot 3) for 130 days during the winter will not maintain their weight 
but will result in an average loss of weight of approximately 35 
pounds. 

4. The steers in Lot 2 receiving a protein concentrate in the ration 
did not lose weight as did Lots 1 and 3 (fig. 5) . 

5. The steers receiving corn silage as a part of their ration (Lots 1 
and 2, Table 7) made greater total gains for the year than those 
receiving rations of dry roughage alone. 



14 BULLETIN 870, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

6. Steers wintered on dry roughage alone (Lot 3), which lost weight 
during the winter, and those fed a maintenance ration only of which 
corn silage was a part (Lot 1) made greater gains during the first two 
months on grass than those steers (Lot 2) which had made consider- 
able gain (60 pounds) during the winter. This would be expected if 
the steers in the first-mentioned lots were to be finished in the same 
condition as those in Lot 2, as they had considerably more gain to 
make in order to catch up in weight. 

7. There was a slight tendency for the steers fed on dry roughage 
alone (Lot 3) to make less gain during the last two months of the 
pasture season than did the steers which had received silage in the 
ration (Lots 1 and 2) during the preceding winter, although this dif- 
ference was very slight. 

II. THE USE OF SILAGE AND THE COST OF RATIONS FOR WINTERING 

YEARLING STEERS. 

Shall I purchase steers (that are to be fattened from grass the 
next summer) in the fall, and carry them through the winter largely 
on roughage, or shall I purchase them in the spring after some one 
else has wintered them? Tliis is a question wliich the thoughtful 
cattle grazer in the good pasture areas is likely to ask himself and 
which it is of considerable importance to answer correctly. No 
matter what the answer may be on any particular farm or in any 
particular section of country, the fact remains that cattle are higher 
in price and are worth more in the spring just before the grass season 
opens than they were at the close of the pasture period the preced- 
ing fall. Tliis increase in value is due largely to the cost of winter- 
ing, depending upon the rations and methods used. 

The data already presented in this bulletin afford an opportunity 
to tlirow some light upon tliis important subject. In the following 
discussion of this question it is necessary to fix the prices for feeds 
on the farm. It is felt, however, that this is the most questionable 
and unsatisfactory part of such experimental work, and is especially 
true for the last few years, during which unusual fluctuations have 
occurred in feed prices. 

PRICES OF FEEDS USED. 

During the four years that this experiment was in progress the 
price of silage increased from S4 to $8 a ton, cottonseed meal from 
S30 to $60, and hay and straw advanced respectively 33^ and 50 
per cent. Thus the cost of wintering a steer in 1917-18 was nearly 
double the cost of keeping him through the winter 1914-15. While 
feed prices remain high, it is not certain that they will continue at 
the present high level for any great length of time. For this reason, 
and also for simplicity in making the various calculations, an average 
of the feed prices for the four years is used, as follows: 



WINTER RATIONS OF YEARLING STEERS. 



15 



Per ton. 

Corn silage $6 

Mixed hay 18 

Rye hay 18 

Soy-bean hay 17 

Wlieat straw 7 

Cottonseed meal 50 

The foregoing averages were made from figures taken from the 
Yearbook of the United States Department of Agriculture, and are 
the average farm prices in the States of West Virginia, Virginia, 
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Temiessee, North Caro- 
lina, and parts of other adjacent States, to which this work is most 
applicable. 

An attempt is made to show the comparative cost of the different 
rations for the benefit of those who desire information on this phase 
of the subject. If the prices of feeds in any locality are different 
from the prices used in these calculations, it is suggested that they 
be substituted and the following calculations used as a guide, using, 
as the basis of calculation, the total amounts of the different feeds 
consumed per steer as shown in the first section of Table 4. 

Table 8 shows the rations fed, the gain or loss in weight per steer 
during the winter, the fall cost per hundredweight, the cost of feed- 
ing each steer through the winter, and the advance in spring value 
over fall cost of steers per hundredweight. 

Table 8. — Summary of rations, costs, and results. • 

















Ad- 
















vance in 








Gain(-l-) 


Initial 




Value in 


spring 


Lot 

No. 


Ration. 


Year. 


loss ( — ) 

in 
weight 


value 
per 
hun- 
dred- 


Cost to 
winter 
each 
steer. 


spring 
per 
hun- 
dred- 


value 
over 
initial 
value 








steer. 


weight. 




weight. 


hun- 
dred- 
weight. 








Pounds. 










1 


Corn silage, mixed hay, and wheat 


1914-15 


-23 


$6.50 


$13.71 


$9.04 


$2. .54 




straw. 


1915-16 


00 


6.50 


13.74 


8. 52 


2.02 






1916-17 


-1-19 


7.00 


16.03 


9.07 


2.07 




- 1 


6.67 


14.49 


8.88 


2.2 




Corn silage, wheat straw, and cotton- 


1914-15 




2 


+ 74 


6.50 


14.47 


7.89 


1.39 




seed meal. 


1915-16 


-f80 


6.50 


14.34 


7.70 


1.20 






1916-17 


4-52 


7.00 


14.60 


8.48 


1.48 






1917-18 


-1-40 


7.50 


13.88 


9.03 


1.53 






+ 62 


6.88 


14.32 


8.28 


1.40 






1914-15 




3 


-46 


6.50 


13.62 


9.38 


2.88 






1915-16 


- 7 


6.50 


15.03 


8.81 


2.31 






1916-17 


-30 


7.00 


16.74 


9.72 


2.72 






1917-18 


-56 


7.50 


17.30 


11.00 


3.50 






-35 


6.88 


15.67 


9.73 


2.85 






1917-18 
1917-18 




4 


+ 27 


7.50 


14.76 


9. .32 


1.82 








5 1 Corn silage, rye hay, and cottonseed 


+ 11 


7.50 


16.82 


9.84 


2.34 


1 meal. 










— V 





>roTE.— The length of the feeding period varied somewhat from year to year, depending on the condition 
of the pastures in the early spring. The steers were fed 128 days during the winter of 1914-15, 122 days in 
1915-16, 134 days in 1916-17, and 133 days in 1917-18. 



16 



BULLETIN 870, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTURE. 



COST PER POUND OF GAIN. 

The cost of producing a pound of gain is the main factor in deter- 
mining whether a steer is being produced at a profit or a loss. The 
cost of feeding a steer during the winter, plus the cost of pasture 
the following summer, is the total cost of feeding the steer for the 
year. By dividing this amount by the increase in weight of the 
steer, the cost of producing a pound of gain may be ascertained. 
From Table 8 it will be noted that the winter cost constitutes approxi- 
mately two-thirds of the total cost for the year. Practically all the 
gain, however, is made during the summer or pasture season. Hence 
the cost of wintering becomes the governing factor in determining 
the cost of a pound of gain. A summarv of gains and costs is given 

in Table 9. 

Table 9. ^Summary of gains and costs. 















Total 










Total 






cost of 










gam, 


Cost 


Cost 


feed 


Cost 








winter 


per 


and 


per 


Lots 
No. 


Ration. 


Year. 


and 
summer. 


steer, 
winter. 


steer, 
sum- 


pasture 
per 


pound 
yearly 








per 


mer.! 


year 


gam. 








steer. 






per 
steer. 










Pounds. 










1 


Corn silage, mixed hay, and wheat 


1914-15 


313 


S13.71 


88.40 


$22.11 


$0,070 




straw. 


1915-16 


344 


13.74 


8.35 


22.09 


.064 






1916-17 


289 


16.03 


7.S5 


23.88 


.083 




316 


14.49 


8.20 


22.69 


.072 




Corn silaee, wheat straw, and cotton- 


1914-15 




o 


328 


14.47 


8.40 


22.87 


.070 




seed meal. 


1915-16 


358 


14.34 


8.35 


22.69 


.063 






1916-17 


310 


14.60 


7.85 


22.45 


.072 






1917-18 


298 


13.88 


7.00 


20.88 


.070 




324 


14.32 


7.90 


22.22 


.069 






1914-15 




3 


269 


13.62 


8.40 


22.02 


.082 






1915-16 


303 


15.03 


8.35 


23.38 


.077 






1916-17 


276 


16.74 


7.85 


24.59 


.089 




Average 


1917-18 


249 


17.30 


7.00 


24.30 


.097 




274 


15.67 


7.90 


23.57 


.086 




Corn silage and soy-bean hav 


1917-18 
1917-18 




4 


267 


14.76 


7.00 


21.76 


.081 




Corn silage, rye hay, and cottonseed 




5 


292 


16.82 


7.00 


23.82 


.081 




meal. 















1 The cost of summer feed is calculated at the same rate for each lot each year, charging the pasture at 5 
cents a day, as follows: 

168 davs, 1915 $8. 40 

167 days, 1916 8. 35 

157 days, 1917 7. 85 

140 days, 1918 7. 00 

The steers of Lots 2, which were fed corn silage, wheat straw, and 
cottonseed meal, made the greatest gams during the year at least cost 
for feed. Hence the cost of a pound of gain was lowest for these lots, 
the average for four years bemg 6.9 cents. 

Lots 1, fed corn silage, mixed hay, and wheat straw, put on gains 
at an average cost of 7.2 cents a pound. 



WINTER RATIONS OF YEARLING STEERS. 



17 



Steers fed mixed hay and wheat straw, which is by far the most 
commonly used ration in the section under discussion, made smaller 
yearly gains at greater cost than did the steers of the two lots afore- 
mentioned. It cost 8.6 cents to put on a pound of gam when the 
wmtering ration consisted of mixed hay and wheat straw. 

The cost of producing a pound of gain was comparatively high m 
Lots 4 and 5, being 8.1 cents a pomid for each lot. The rations used, 
while an improvement over the commonly used combinations of 
mixed hay and wheat straw, were too costly, when resulting gams 
are considered, to be recommended except when mixed hay is not 
available. 

VALUE OF GAINS. 

In Table 10 the increase in value per steer is shown. The mitial 
cost plus the cost of feed and pasture is the total cost of the steer at 
the close of the pasture season. The appraised valuation of the steers 
at this time was $2 per hundredweight more than the initial cost per 
hundredweight the preceding fall. While this is an arbitrary valua- 
tion, nevertheless it represents a very conservative figure, the actual 
increase in most instances being much more. 

The cost of labor and other cost factors are not considered; such 
items would be more than offset by the value of the manure from the 
cattle. 



Table 10. — Summary of costs shoiving increased value of steers at end of winter feeding 

period. 



Lots 
No. 


Year. 


Initial 

value per 

steer. 


Cost to 

feed each 

steer one 

year. 


Value of 
steer, in- 
cluding 
cost of 
feed and 
pasture. 


Ap- 
praised 
value of 
steer at 
end of 
year. 


Increase 

over 

initial 

value plus 

cost of 

feed and 

pasture. 


1 


1914-15 


S40.43 
44.07 
48.30 


S22.ll 
22.09 
23.88 


$62.54 
66.16 
72.18 


879.48 
86.87 
88.11 


$16.94 




1915-16 


20 71 




1916-17 


15 93 




Average 






44.27 


22.69 


66.96 


84.82 


17.86 




1914-15 




2 


40.17 
44.07 
48.30 
50.33 


22.87 
22.69 
22.45 
20.88 


63.04 
66.76 
70.75 
71.21 


80.50 
88. 06 
90.00 
92.06 


17.46 




1915-16 


21 30 




1916-17 


19.25 




1917-18 


20 85 




Average 






45.72 


22.22 


67.94 


87.66 


19 72 




1914-15 




3 


40.50 
44.07 
48.30 
50. 33 


22.02 
23.38 
24.59 
24.30 


62.52 
67.45 
72.89 
74.63 


75.82 
83.39 
86. 85 
89.11 


13 30 




191.5-16 


15 94 




1916-17 


13.96 




1917-18.. 


14 48 




Average 






45.80 


23.57 


69.37 


83.79 


14.42 




1917-18 - 




4 


50. 33 


21.76 


72.09 


91.49 


19 40 




1917-18. 




5 


50.33 


23.82 


74.15 


87.40 


13 25 









The estimated value per hundredweight at the end of the pasture 
season of all lots was the same, regardless of the extra finish due to 



li 



BULLETIN 870, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



greater gains made by the silage-fed lots. Steers from all lots were 
to be carried over and finished the following year; hence, no actual 
selling price is given. Had these increased gains been taken into 
consideration in estimating the value, the added profit per steer for 
the lots fed silage and cottonseed meal would have been even greater 
than the amounts shown in Table 10. In this table, as in all others, 
the steers of Lot 2, fed corn silage, wheat straw, and cottonseed meal, 
appear to best advantage, for they returned a profit of $19.72 per 
steer as compared with $17.86 for Lot 1 and $14.42 for Lot 3. Lots 
4 and 5 were included in the table, but in the comparisons and con- 
clusions drawn they are not considered, as they were carried only one 
year. 

VALUE OF SILAGE IN THE RATIONS. 

In Table 11 the added value per steer to be gained by the use of 
corn silage and also of cottonseed meal in the rations is shown. 
Since most of the cattle wintered in West Virginia and neighboring 
States are carried tlirough on dry feed, the steers fed mixed hay and 
wheat straw were used as a basis from which to make comparisons 
and those feeds were considered a check ration. 

The increased value of the steer in the spring over the fall value 
depends very largely upon the method of wintering, as is shown in 
Table 8, being from $1.40 to $2.85 per hundredweight. When the 
better methods are used the increase based upon the cost of winter- 
ing will be on the average about $2 per hundredweight, which is the 
figure used in making these calculations. 

Table 11. — Summary showing value of silage rations as compared rvith hay and strew 

{check ration). 



Ration. 


Average 
yearly 

gain per 
steer. 


Increased 

gain per 

steer 

over 

steers 

fed 
check 
ration. 


Value of 

increase 

in gam 

per 

steer. 


Average 

yearly 

cost of 

feed 

and 

pasture 

per 

steer. 


Decrease 
in cost 
of ration 

as 

compared 

with 

check 

ration. 


Increased 

value of 

ration per 

steer as 

compared 

with 

check 

ration. 


Mixed hav and wheat straw (check ration) 
Corn silage, mixed hay, and wheat straw.. 


Pounds. 
274 
316 
267 
292 

324 


Pounds. 




$23.57 
22.69 
21.76 
23.82 

22.22 






42 

7 
IS 

50 


$3. 73 

1-.62 

1.60 

4.44 


SO. 88 

1.81 

2-. 25 

1.35 


$4.61 
1.19 


Com silage, rye hay, and cottonseed meal.. 
Corn silage, wheat straw, and cottonseed 


1.35 
5.79 







1 Decrease. 



The addition of corn silage to the dry-feed ration resulted in an 
increase of 42 pounds in the yearly gain of each steer as compared 
with the check ration, and the substitution of cottonseed meal and 
corn silage in place of mixed hay produced an increase of 50 pounds 
of gain per steer. At the estimated value — $2 margin above the 
initial cost per hundredweight — these additional gains would be 



WINTER RATIONS OF YEARLING STEERS. 



19 



worth $3,73 and $4.44, respectively. If the three rations had cost 
the same per steer per year, these figures would represent the added 
profit. With feeds at prices as charged during the first three years, 
however, the dry-feed ration was the most costly. It cost 88 cents 
less to feed a steer on corn silage, mixed hay, and wheat straw than 
on mixed hay and straw alone. The addition of cottonseed meal and 
the elimination of the hay decreased the cost $1,35. By adding these 
figures to the value of the increased gains, the total added profit per 
steer can be obtained. In the case of the steers fed corn silage,- 
mixed hay, and wheat straw, this amounted to $4,61, and for the 
steers fed on corn silage, cottonseed meal, and straw the corresponding 
figure was $5,79. 

Since the average initial weights of the lots were practically the 
same for each trial, and since all lots were summered on the same 
pasture, the difi^erence in final weight can be attributed to the different 
rations fed during the winter. 



GENERAL SUMMARY OF COSTS AND GAINS. 

A general summary of costs and gains is given in Table 12. 
Table 12. — General summary of costs and gains. 









Lots 2, 












Lots 1, 


(com 




Lots 4, 
(corn 
silage 

and soy- 
bean 
hay). 


Lots 5, 






(com 


silage, 


Lots 3, 


(corn 






silage, 


wheat 


(mixed 


silage, 


Items. 




mLxed 


straw, 


hav and 


rve hav. 






hav , and 


and 


wheat 


and cot- 






wheat 


cotton- 


straw). 


tonseed 






straw). 


seed 




meal). 








meal). 










$14. 49 


$14. 32 


ri5.67 


$14. 76 


$16. 82 


Average length of winter periods 


days.. 


128 


129} 


129} 


133 


133 






$0,116 
$8,20 


$0,111 
$7.90 


$0. 121 
$7.90 


$0,111 

$7.00 


$0. 127 


Average cost of summer feed 


$7.00 


Average length of summer periods 


days.. 


164 


158 


158 


140 


140 


Cost per dav, summer 




$0.05 


$0.05 


$0. 05 


$0.05 


$0.05 


A. verage of total costs per year 


$22. 69 


$22. 22 


$23.57 


$21. 76 


$23. 82 


Average gain or loss per steer, winter. . . 


...pounds.. 


-1 


+62 


-35 


+27 


+ 11 


A verage gain per steer, summer 


do... 


317 


262 


309 


240 


281 


Average total gain per steer 


do... 


316 


324 


274 


267 


292 






$0,072 


$0,069 


$0,086 


$0,081 


$0. 081 







CONCLUSIONS. 

1. Corn silage, wheat straw, and cottonseed meal (fed to Lots 2) 
was the cheapest ration used and at the same time the best, making 
the greatest increase (62 pounds) in weight of the steers. It is 
seldom that one gets the best for the least money. 

2. Silage added to a ration for wintering steers makes it more 
economical than dry roughage alone, considering the gains made 
both during the winter and in the summer following the winter 
feeding period. 



20 BULLETIN 870, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

3. With but few exceptions, a farmer or stockman (in the section 
considered) who has a sufficient number of mature cattle or their 
equivalent is justified in building a silo. 

4. After the farmer or stockman has his silo he may advantageously 
buy a protein supplement. The quantity of cottonseed meal or 
other protein-rich feed would perhaps be regulated by the kind of 
roughage used with the silage. If a legume hay were used, the 
cottonseed meal or other protein concentrate could be eliminated 
entirely or at least reduced very materially in quantity. 

5. The addition of corn silage to the ration for wintering yearling 
steers gave them an increased value of from $1.19 to $5.79 per head, 
depending upon the ration used. 

6. As a general rule, where the farmer has silage and a roughage 
in the form of straw or various kinds of hay and stover, it would 
seem advisable to feed his yearling cattle (should he wish to winter 
them and sell them from grass the next summer) a ration of silage, 
a little cottonseed meal — not more than 1 to 1^ pounds — or other 
such feed, and the roughage that he has available. 

7. The cost of wintering a yearling steer is approximately two- 
thirds the cost of keeping the steer one year. The profit, therefore, 
may be largely determined from the ration used and method of 
wintering. 

8. The feeding methods used in wintering yearling steers added 
from $1.40 to $2.85 per hundredweight to the spring value over the 
value the preceding fall, depending upon the ration used. 



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